"I was so stupid!"

Ran facepalmed while she was having dinner with Sonoko in the hotel room, who had appeared a lot better recovering from dengue, now that her food had transitioned from porridge to a more appetizing spread. The room was filled with the aroma of delicious dishes, and the two friends sat at the table, their conversation filled with a mix of lightheartedness and reflection.

Sonoko glanced at Ran, raising an eyebrow curiously. "What's got you saying that, Ran?"

Ran sighed, poking at her food with her chopsticks. "Sonoko, do you remember the Teru teru bōzu I used to hang?"

Sonoko nodded, a nostalgic smile gracing her face. "Of course! You used to make those cute little dolls to bring good weather whenever Shinichi had an upcoming soccer match the following day, making sure he would win!"

Ran chuckled softly, her gaze distant as she recalled those memories. "Yeah, that's right. I always believed that if I made those dolls with all my heart, it would bring him luck. But anyway," She shook her head, "That is beside the point!"

Sonoko tilted her head, a look of concern crossing her features.

"The dolls!" Ran exclaimed, "It always had a 100 percent accuracy rate when it comes to stopping rains the following day! I could've made one to stop the damn typhoon we all had to endure camping these past 2 weeks! Since Shinichi is around after all!"

At first, Sonoko quietly blinked in silence. Dumbfounded.

After a while, everything clicked in Sonoko's mind, "Now that you mentioned it! Why didn't you think of that earlier, Ran!? It could've spared us all of the hell we had to deal with back at Kodama Forest camp! Let alone, spared me from getting dengue!"

Ran blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement at her own oversight. She shrugged sheepishly, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"I guess I was too caught up in everything that was happening, Sonoko. The typhoon, your illness, as well as the serial killer situation on the island we are on, completely slipped my mind, and I was so focused on the safety of everyone and dealing with the challenges we faced during the camping trip."

Sonoko nodded understandingly, her expression softening. "I mean when you put it that way....you kinda have a point."

Ran sighed, feeling a sense of relief knowing that Sonoko understood. "Yeah, exactly. Now that we're back in the hotel and safe from the typhoon and the killer, I can't help but think about it. It's like a facepalm moment, you know?"

As Sonoko's eyes sparkled, it suddenly occur to her, "Wait, why not make one now!? If you do so, the police can not only send over rescue the following day to save us, we might as well escape from the evil hands of the killer!"

Ran's eyes widened as Sonoko's suggestion sank in. She considered it for a moment, realizing the potential of using the Teru teru bōzu to signal for help. The idea sparked a glimmer of hope in her.

"You're right, Sonoko! Making a Teru teru bōzu now could be our way out of this situation. It's worth a shot," Ran said, her voice filled with determination.

They quickly gathered the necessary materials—tissue paper, string, and scissors—from the hotel room and set to work. Ran's hands moved with a newfound purpose as she crafted the cute little doll, pouring her heart into every fold and cut.

Sonoko watched with anticipation, a mix of excitement and nervousness in her eyes. "You can do it, Ran. I have faith in your abilities."

As Ran finished making the Teru teru bōzu, she held it up with a smile. It was a small, handmade doll, with a cheerful face and outstretched arms. She hung it near the window, letting it dangle in the breeze.

"Now we just have to hope that it works," Ran said, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

..............................................

"Wait, Ran literally made those stupid ghosts made out of handkerchief, and it stopped raining the following day? For every single soccer match, you competed in? How accurate is this!?"

Ranran was in disbelief towards Shinichi, as the two children were on the sofa, watching some Japanese variety show in the penthouse alone.

Shinichi chuckled, nodding in confirmation. "Yes, Ran had this strange ability to bring good weather whenever she made those Teru teru bōzu. It was like a lucky charm for me during my soccer matches."

"Hold on, so let me get this straight," Ranran shook her head in amazement, her eyes wide. "Everytime Ran-san made those silly ghosts, it literally stopped raining the next day?"

Shinichi grinned. "Exactly. It became a running joke among our friends and teammates. They would always ask Ran to make a Teru teru bōzu whenever there was a chance of rain during our matches."

Ranran's disbelief soon turned to rants, "If you had this the entire time right from the start, shouldn't you have said this earlier so that we could've prevented more deaths on this island we are stuck in!? Let alone, ditch this stupid camping trip hurriedly so that we can go back home to civilization!?"

"Hey," Shinichi grew annoyed at her insults, "First and foremost, she and I are ex-friends! So it ain't surprising that something like this would slip my mind!"

"That is true," Ranran thought of this thoughtfully before deciding with a sigh, "Well, we can't make the undead wake up from the grave. But what we can do now is focus on the case, meanwhile...maybe I should consider using Ran's Teru teru bōzu to our advantage?."

"Eh!? What do you mean by that!? Don't you....want to go back to civilization? Since you hate camping!?"

"I do," Ranran admits, "But at the same time if her little ghost friends genuinely had a 100 percent effect, you also need to think of the downsides if there are no typhoons right now," Leaning back to the sofa, Ranran explains, "The severe typhoon here is the reason why the killer can't go after any of his or her intended victims. Without it, he can easily come to this hotel to finish us off. Considering the three murders that had taken place on this island that took place recently have been no severe weather, and Mana having brought 10 kids to the warehouse had alerted him...you don't think he wouldn't want to silence anyone from exposing his crimes?"

Shinichi's eyes widened as he considered Ranran's words. He realized the potential danger they could be in if they stopped the typhoon from happening. He nodded in agreement, acknowledging the validity of her concerns.

"I never thought of that," Shinichi said, his tone serious. "While it would be tempting to use Ran's Teru teru bōzu to stop the typhoon and escape this island....it may endanger all of their lives in the process."

Ranran knowingly nods, "We need to treat it with caution first by identifying the serial killer's identity. Once I get the calls either from Emiko, Michio and Junko...only then we will decide what to do using Ran's little ghost friends."

"Does it matter....the killer's identity whom you suspect it to be?"

"It does," Ranran confirmed, "Because as soon as my suspicions are confirmed, we would not need to worry whether suspicions that Miss Rika or Mr Miki are the true killers or conspirators...having come after our entire class all the way to this hotel."

"Eh?"

"You notice it right? That they didn't come along with the other kids from the Kodama Forest campsite all the way to this hotel?" Ranran led Shinichi to point at the car park below their penthouse, where the pitched tents are drenched in typhoons.

"You're right," Shinichi said, a frown forming on his face. "Supposedly if they were the real killers...they would've found an excuse by claiming they are worried about them to venture out at the forest alone to come all the way to this forest...to finish all of us from speaking out about the deaths here. And yet, they choose to stay behind in the storm. Wait a minute...."

His head then whipped at Ranran, "Is that why you knew early on that the two couldn't have been the ones who were capable of the murders!?"

Ranran nodded, her expression serious.

"The alibi and witness account from the others had made me question it multiple times. No matter how hard I looked at it...although Mr Miki had the biggest motive, and so did Rika to protect him...they couldn't have been the killer at all, as it didn't fit the way the killer staged those crimes. The killer made it like an accident with such caution...if Mr Miki did it, that would've been careless of him to leave a scrapbook with those news clippings about the expedition back at his office for Ran and Takuma to have discovered it, especially if he was going to commit murder. Miss Rika especially would've gotten rid of the scrapbook long ago especially if she suspected Mr Miki had been behind the killings, remember, she too had access to the office."

Shinichi's eyes widened as he realized the implications of Ranran's observations. "You know, now that you reminded me....."

The little boy then rushed over to the stack of papers gathered by Takuma and Reina hours earlier from the kids, before shuffling while reading out the other, "When Mr Iwao was murdered....everyone who was there at that time stated that when Miss Rika went in to take the gloves, they seemingly witness him standing there at the kitchen window....but not one of them mentioned that they saw his face."

Analyzing the statements after another, he says, "Mr Iwao is a very big size man. To lock him up at the door while he was in the fridge although I admit was an easy job for her given that she is petite size...considering the walk-in fridge isn't far off from the window...supposedly Miss Rika who claimed to miss out her gloves went back in there and murder Mr Iwao....given his claustrophobic history...it would've made sense for him to either scream or knock the door out loud. And yet oddly....no screams or the sounds of the door bagging was heard from anyone when it happened."

Ranran listened intently to Shinichi's deductions, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "What point are you trying to make, Shinichi?"

"I could be wrong...but I suspect the guy in the kitchen our classmates had seen....might not be Mr Iwao, but the killer."

Ranran didn't respond much while the apprentice ranted, "Considering the witness account made it obvious that Miss Rika would not have much time to commit the murder since she was taking the entire class 1-A on a joyride at such short notice if that person they all saw was the killer, it would make much more sense and more time for the killer to ensure Mr Iwao die, will it not?"

"Are you....implying Mr Iwao was presumably knocked out or murdered by the time Miss Rika went to collect her glove?"

"Not only that," Shinichi quietly plops himself onto the sofa, "I also strongly believed that you suspected that the killer had the intention of framing Mr Miki and Miss Rika behind those accidents." Shinichi narrates, "The killer is living in that abandoned warehouse, which was a 10-minute walk between there and Kodama Forest campsite. Meaning the killer had a headstart compared to Mr Miki and Miss Rika to eliminate Mr Iwao and sabotage the rope that tied to Mr Eiji and Mr Miki, not to mention, planning the wine bottle with the depression pills for Miss Jun to commit suicide. This explains why there are so many inconsistencies in the witness accounts and the timing of the crimes. If you longed suspected the two as the killers, you wouldn't have been so careless as to leave them a map to get our classmates here to this hotel, am I wrong?"

Shinichi's observations struck a chord within her, and she nodded in agreement.

"I think the last thing you noticed Mr Miki could not have committed the murder...was what we discovered back at the abandoned warehouse," Shinichi continued, "The timing when Ran and Takuma witness Mr Miki talking to his dead wife's corpse at the kitchen, as well as you, me and Reina when we were there...Mr Miki did not have much time to slip out of the Kodama Forest camp and go back to where we are."

"You got it right," Ranran walked away from the window while approaching her partner-in-crime, "And so...with all of the theory gathered, what could you conclude from this?"

With utter silence, Shinichi finally concluded, "I believed....you suspected the killer....was someone who isn't completely dead, am I wrong?"

Ranran stared at Shinichi, with surprise in her eyes.

"You mentioned...you are waiting for 'that call' from the police department to confirm 'something' to verify that your suspicions of the killer's identity, right? As in whether their corpse is discovered. If their corpse isn't around...that meant the person is not only likely to be alive, their motive....would be way bigger than Mr Miki or Miss Rika to commit those murders."

Ranran's expression turned solemn as she confirmed Shinichi's words. "You're right, Shinichi. Spot on."

Shinichi's eyes widened as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. "How.....?"

"Like you said earlier..." Ranran finally revealed, "The alibi was so conflicting and with the motives and the way the murders were orchestrated were so very well-put-together.....I was assuming at first that it was impossible for our suspects to do all of the murders despite having an air-tight alibi, it would take supernatural abilities like a ghost to do so...which later gave me a Eureka moment that supposedly...supposedly that one of the victims among the series of murder are alive and well, it would make them entirely invisible to do these murders without getting caught. After all, since they are legally 'dead' in the eyes of the law, not a single of those victims would suspect that 'they' could've faked their own deaths to kill them."

Shinichi's eyes widened further as he absorbed Ranran's revelation. The idea that one of the victims could still be alive and orchestrating the murders was both shocking and intriguing.

"But do you honestly think that is possible?!" Shinichi asked, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and doubt. "Things like that only happen in Tv Dramas and movies!"

"It's because of your assumption that they are deceased, Shinichi. Especially Miss Jun...." Ranran sat next to him, "I bet that the killer exploited her paranoia and guilt, which is also what led to her death."

"If what you're saying is true, then we're dealing with someone who is not only a murderer but also a master of deception. They've managed to manipulate everyone, including the police, into believing they are dead." Shinichi pondered who is the likeliest to have been the one behind the strings of murder, "But why? What could their motive be? If they had so much hatred over the victims who wronged them, why isn't heading to the police an option?"

"Shinichi," Ranran sighs, "Once a person is legally deceased, there is nothing they can do to clear their name or seek justice through conventional means."

"What!? How can that be!?" Shinichi was sceptical of this, "If the government made a mistake that someone has 'died', ain't it their job to correct the error?"

"Theory-wise, it's easy to say. But in reality, it cost tons of money to fix that mistake," There is a hint of frustration in her voice as she continued, "Think about it, Shinichi. To prove that you're alive and reverse the legal declaration of death, you need solid evidence, documentation, and legal processes. It requires time, money, and resources that not everyone has access to. And even then, it's a complicated and lengthy procedure. If you are legally declared deceased, you cannot get a job, stay in your own home country or even get married and have kids. In a way....you are literally a living deceased person with no sense of goal and purpose."

Shinichi reflects on the injustice of it all. "It sounds like living like a zombie."

"Of course, there is also a benefit to this," Ranran adds, "There is no law that can stop them from committing murder legally since they are 'declared dead'. So even if he or she was found guilty for the crimes on this island....they will never end up in jail."

Shinichi's expression turned grave as he considered Ranran's words. The idea that someone could exploit their legal declaration of death to commit crimes with impunity was deeply unsettling. It highlighted a significant flaw in the legal system that needed to be addressed.

"This isn't good," Shinichi replied, sweat beginning to appear on his forehead, feeling anxious, "Then are we, not dead meat?! I mean this island has no police officers!" Shinichi swallowed nervously, feeling a mix of adrenaline and fear coursing through his veins.

As Shinichi's mind whirled with the implications of Ranran's words, he recalled something, "When we were investigating the case of 'The Illegitimate Extra', Mr Namba...when he was pronounced dead, but he ventured out of his hiding spot to save us back at the quarry....he mentioned that he heavily relied on his fiance and some of his friends he made while working in the filming industry for food, clothes and shelter, right? If the killer on this island was what you claim to have faked their death...?"

"That's right, I think it is the same for the killer," Ranran answered.

Shinichi's eyes widened with realization. "So you're saying that the killer has a network of people who support them, providing them with the means to survive and carry out their sinister plans?"

Ranran nodded, her voice tinged with concern. "It's highly likely. If they were able to orchestrate these murders and disappear without a trace, they must have a well-established support system. It could be friends, family, or even an underground network of criminals who are willing to help them."

Shinichi shivered at the thought. "It's like a twisted version of a superhero team, but instead of saving lives, they're taking them. This killer is more dangerous than we thought."

Ranran's gaze hardened as she clenched her fists. "That's why it's crucial for us to pinpoint the killer. Definitely one of the killers is one of the deceased victims. The quicker we discover this, the faster we can put an end to this madness."

"But where do we even begin to look into it!?" Shinichi wondered aloud, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and determination.

"Let's start the process of elimination," Ranran crossed her fingers thoughtfully, "Beginning with Mr Miki's mother who allegedly died in the elevator accident when Mr Miki was around 9 years old, what do you think?"

"The allege deceased mistress of the Yasuo family, correct?" Shinichi interrupted, his tone tinged with intrigue. "Mr Miki didn't have a smooth life after her passing, especially since he ended up in the custody of his biological dad and horrible step-mom. While I admit his mom had a personal vendetta against his real dad and step-mom...regarding the expedition incident...." He paused for a moment, "Mr Miki was probably hated for that decision he was forced to make, so it would make sense for his mother to wipe out anyone who criticize her son's decision. Let alone, her daughter-in-law, Miss Jun."

"But the problem with this theory is...Mr Kiryu and Mr Iwao, the two other victims of this case." Shinichi grew sceptical, "If those two whom Miki had known since the university didn't support his decision, they wouldn't have continued to work for him for 12 years after that incident, right? So it wouldn't make sense for his mom to simply murder those two. And as for Mr Eiji," His brows knitted together, "If she suspects Mr Eiji might be cheating on her son's wife, it would give her the motive to end his life. But then...."

He cross his arms, "What mother wouldn't return to her nine-year-old son if she survived!?"

Ranran pondered Shinichi's words, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Exactly. Also, don't forget, if she had intense hatred over what he had gone through, no mother would simply idle and watch helplessly that her own son is being mistreated. This ain't J-drama nor K-drama logic world we lived in."

Shinichi chuckled at Ranran's remark, appreciating her sense of humour amidst the seriousness of the situation. "You're right, Ranran. Real life doesn't always follow the logic of TV dramas. Then...." Shinichi moved one of the murdered victim's photos with Mr Kiryu, "How about him?"

"The guy who began the expedition, let alone, was in charge of it, right? He died when the shower unit scalded him with boiling water before exploding," Ranran picked up the man's photo, "What would he be his motive for murder? He too is one of the survivors thanks to Mr Miki's decision to sacrifice Mr Kichiro, Miss Jun's fiance at that time during the mountain expedition."

"You are right," Shinichi scratched his head, deep in thought. "It's unlikely that he would hold a personal grudge against him or the other victims since he survived thanks to Mr Miki. If I want to point out possible motives...I would say Miki's parents since they mistreat his friend Miki. Maybe even Miki's haters, but not their friends. Definitely no way. They are on the same boat."

Then a thought occurred to him, "It's probably the reason why Miss Jun was tormented throughout 12 years of marriage. She couldn't bear the thought of killing her own husband, since he saved her. It can't be Miss Jun, since her corpse was seen by Takuma and Ran last night."

He hopped away from the sofa and paced back and forth, "It can't be Mr Iwao, because I personally went there to verify and it was his corpse. Which leaves.....Mr Miki's dad, his parents, plus...Eiji and Kichiro."

Shinichi then ponders his thoughts while looking up to the ceiling, "Miki's dad...had the motive to murder Miki's biological mom, to gain custody over Miki. He even had the motive to wipe out Miki's friends whom he saved at the expedition, to hide his 'decision' out of image concerns, especially his own daughter-in-law, who is already hated by the other powerful people who were present there. Plus, he had the means and resources to pull this off. Out of all of the deceased victims...I felt like he is the likeliest."

"No." Ranran shook her head at him. "Guess again."

Shinichi paused, taken aback by Ranran's response. He furrowed his brows, deep in thought, trying to reassess his deductions. "No? But it seemed to make sense. Miki's dad had the motive and the means... Wait, could it be.....either Eiji or Kichiro!?"

Ranran smirked, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Bingo, Shinichi! You're getting smarter. It's time to turn our attention to these two gentlemen."

Shinichi's excitement grew as he realized he was onto something. "Alright, let's break it down. Eiji and Kichiro similarly fell from a cliff, although it happened in two locations, let alone, happened 12 years in between."

Ranran nodded in agreement. "That's right. The circumstances of their deaths might be different, but they both shared one thing in common: falling from a cliff. It's too much of a coincidence to ignore. Also," She gave a mysterious smile, "You are forgetting one more person."

Shinichi's eyes widened with anticipation. "One more person? Who could it be?"

Ranran leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Think about it, Shinichi. They may have been around Emiko's age when he died, but it doesn't mean it should be completely excluded as a suspect."

Without warning, his brows shot up like a rocket, "Tatsuo!? The heir of the Yasuo family who allegedly died while drowning!?"

Ranran nodded, her smile widening. "Bingo again, Shinichi!"

"Considering he was around Miki's similar age when he passed away...." Shinichi rubbed his chin, "He would've been around his age had he survived. Wait a minute," His thoughts stopped in his tracks, "How can a child fake their own death!? It ain't possible."

"A child can't, even if it were for a naturally talented schemer like me, it ain't possible," Ranran chuckled at Shinichi's perplexed expression. "But an adult could."

Shinichi's eyes widened as the realization dawned on him. "You mean...someone staged it as if Tatsuo was dead?" Ranran nodded, her eyes gleaming. "Why!?" Shinichi was confused, "He was born into a privileged background. Who would stupidly walk away from it all?! "

"It's one thing to be born into it, but not everyone is born to master it," Ranran explained, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and intrigue. "If you happen to watch several idiotic dramas about that dimwitted villainess with privileged backgrounds, you will learn that the reason why they are this way is that they are overly coddled to a point that they are stupid to think for themselves, which makes them as an incompetent simpleton. If we were to look back at Kichiro's journals about Miki, does this not imply that his life as an illegitimate son and heir is so suffocating thanks to the weight of his family's reputation and expectations?"

"But Ranran, he is illegitimate. Tatsuo is legitimate. No way his own parents would give Tatsuo a hard time since they are biologically related." Shinichi argued.

"If they don't go hard on Tatsuo, then how do you suppose that they could easily entrust millions of yen worth of financial empire under his care as an adult, Shinichi?" In a room filled with silence, Ranran continued, "When millions of yen are involved, a simple thing like 'love' is enough to bring an end to the empire. Which is why not uncommon for rich families to prioritize their wealth and reputation over their own flesh and blood."

Shinichi nodded, absorbing the information. "Ok, so let's say if Tatsuo did faked his own death to escape the pressures and constraints of his privileged life. But why go to such lengths? Why not just run away?"

The little girl leaned back, her expression contemplative. "Running away would have been too risky. If a minor flees, legally the police would easily swoop in to capture him and simply return him back to his parents. And the chances of locating him would increase drastically, given that he is born into an affluent family. This is why disappearing without a trace and starting a new life isn't an option. But by staging his death, he could not only cut ties with his family, he could also assume a new identity, and live freely without being hunted down."

"But what adult would do it for Tatsuo?!" Shinichi demanded while rambling, "And I don't see how does this had anything to do with the deaths on this island! The reason this whole thing began was that Miki sacrificed Kichiro-"

Then suddenly, he stopped. The gears in his head began to click everything into place.

A mischievous grin formed on Ranran's face as she observed Shinichi's realization. "You're starting to connect the dots, aren't you?" she teased.

Shinichi's eyes widened, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and disbelief. "Wait for a minute...no," Shinichi was in denial, "There is just....no way! It can't really be!"

Ranran's grin widened as she watched Shinichi struggle with his realization. "Oh, but it can, Shinichi. Sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction."

Shinichi shook his head, trying to process the new information. "I can't believe it... But it all adds up. The motives, the means, everything points to one person. Only that person is capable of it. If Tatsuo...."

"It's a possibility," Ranran affirmed. "Think about it, if what I suspected was true all along, does it not make total sense how the motives of these crimes fit?"

Shinichi's mind raced as he tried to piece everything together. He recalled the journals Kichiro had written about Miki, the resentment and suffocating pressure he felt as an illegitimate son. The connections started to form in his mind, aligning with the motives and patterns of the murders on the island. "If what you say was the truth....that means we....are no match for the killer. Let alone, it explains a lot why they happen to be so brazen in committing all of these killings."

It was then he began tugging his hair in frustration, "Now it made sense why you didn't reveal the identity of the killer, although...."Shinichi gave a hesitant look, "What are we going to do now!? We have no weapons to deal with someone who has experience in the wilderness...let alone, not a single cop on this island."

"We may not have weapons, Shinichi, but we have one thing the killer doesn't." Ranran reminded her apprentice.

"Which is?"

"This," She pointed to her head, 

Shinichi raised an eyebrow, his confusion was evident. "You mean...our intelligence?"

"If stupid dramas that depict a heroine as 'bright and intelligent' only end up disappointing the audiences as a dumb buffoon, then her intelligence is nothing but utterly useless unless one lacks wits or the cunning capacity to put it to full use," Ranran explained with a sly grin.

Hearing this for the first time, Shinichi goes, "Do you happen to have a plan?"

"I do, but-"

All of a sudden, her smartphone rang with a loud, obnoxious ringtone that shattered the tense atmosphere. Ranran scrambled to answer the call, her face contorting into a mix of annoyance and surprise. "Who the heck is calling at a time like this?" she muttered under her breath.

Shinichi watched as Ranran spoke on the phone, his curiosity growing by the second. He couldn't help but wonder who would be contacting them in the midst of their investigation. The possibilities raced through his mind, each more bizarre than the last.

After a brief conversation, Ranran hung up the phone and turned to Shinichi, a horrified expression on her face. "Shinichi, turn on the Tv."

"Huh!? Why!?"

"Just do it, now!"

Shinichi hurriedly grabbed the remote and switched on the television. The screen flickered to life, displaying a breaking news segment that sent chills down his spine.

"We demand Teitan Elementary School to fork out the emergency funds in full amount!"

Apparently, to the two children's horror, their grandparents, as well as the other parents gathered around the Elementary school with the kids leaving the premises having witnessed....them holding signs, chanting

"Justice for our Children! Safety First!"

The matriarch stood at the forefront of the group, her voice leading the chant as she held a sign high above her head. The other parents echoed her words, their determination is evident in their voices.

The scene caught the attention of the school administrators and passersby, drawing a crowd and generating awareness. "Oh my God, what on earth are they doing!?" Ranran can't help but be startled, and so was her partner-in-crime.

"Release the emergency funds onto our children right now!" The adults could be heard chanting while they chanted and marched on the TV, their message resonated with onlookers.

Shinichi and Ranran exchanged bewildered glances, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events. The demand for emergency funds seemed to come out of nowhere, leaving them puzzled and intrigued.

"What in the world is happening?" Shinichi muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Ranran's eyes narrowed as she analyzed the situation. "It appears that they are forcing our school to release the funds to our classmates, who are still outside our hotel drenched wet with the heavy typhoon under their little tents at the carpark....wait a minute...." Ranran turned to Shinichi's attention, "Shinichi, did you tell them about our classmates pitching at the carpark!?"

"I told them about the serial killer, but not that part! You told me not to inform them in case the killer might see this on tv!" Shinichi exclaimed, "Wait, how do they know about-"

Then both of their minds clicked, "Of course, damn Mana!" The two children cursed.

They realized that Mana, after he was humiliated by Ranran's ruthless words for breaking into the abandoned warehouse with 10 other classmates out of boredom, he made Ranran pay for saying those things, by revealing the dire situation to his father using his smartphone in order to pressure Ranran and Shinichi's families into forking out the expenses for their classmates to check into the hotel that they are currently on.

But judging Ranran and Shinichi's grandparents, they were no pushovers.

So they must have led the angry parents, leading to this unexpected protest.

The two gathered around the television, their eyes fixed on the screen as the news anchor began speaking. "Well thanks to him, he had to just speed up our classmates' death!" Ranran blasted.

"Luckily all of this is taking place at our school in the city, while we are still stuck on this stupid island nevertheless." Shinichi's frustration was evident as he clenched his fists, his voice filled with anger. "That idiot bastard, Mana! He's putting everyone's lives at risk just to get back at us!"

"Honestly, had Reina and Takuma who were there interviewing our other classmates outside not overheard this, I swore that it could've been a trojan horse," Ranran took a deep breath, her expression determined. "I think it is about time I teach that Mana a lesson."

Shinichi nodded, his anger subsiding slightly as he realized the urgency of the situation. "I agree, so what is your plan?"

"First and foremost," Ranran gave a calculative glance to Shinichi, "I am going to need to drop by and pay a visit to Ran's hotel room section."

Shinichi raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Ranran's plan. "Why? What do you have in mind?"

A devious grin spread across Ranran's face. "A lot of manipulation."

Shinichi's curiosity grew as he followed Ranran toward Ran's hotel room section. He wondered what Ranran had up her sleeve and how they would turn the situation in their favour.

Little did Mana know that he had just unleashed a storm far greater than any typhoon, as Shinichi would soon see.

.......................................

"Eh!? You want me to put on hold making the Teru teru bōzu!?"

Those were the words that utter out of Ran's mouth, as she, Reina and Takuma gathered in the living room to listen to Ranran's plan while Shinichi quietly listens to her. Sonoko meanwhile was asleep in the bedroom, under the heavy dose of medication.

Ranran looked at Ran, her expression firm. "Yes, Ran, do it tomorrow on a Friday."

"Why!?" Ran was clearly stunned, "Ranran, I thought you wanted to leave this stupid island more than anything since you hate camping! Which is why I made this Teru Teru Bozu in the first place!"

"I do, I really do," Ranran insists, "But right now, just put it on hold for a day."

Ran crossed her arms, clearly conflicted. "But Ranran, if I don't hang it up today, the rain might continue tomorrow!"

"And that is not all!" Reina argued, "If you don't stop the typhoon, the police rescue team won't arrive on this island to save us all!"

"Furthermore, as much as I detest our classmates' behaviour, they will die if we leave them out of the car park one more day!" Takuma sided with them.

"They won't," Ranran insists, "I want to make use of the typhoon situation before it is completely gone."

Ran looked at Ranran, her eyes filled with concern. "But Ranran, what do you mean by making use of the typhoon situation?"

"I want to do two things while all of this is going on: One, expose the serial killer, and two, teach Mana a lesson he wished never to mess with Tantei Association ever again."

"Eh?" All heads turned to her. Reina ever the neutral friend told her friend, "Ranran, this isn't the time to be teaching-"

"What do you think it's going to happen now that the news made it across the media, everyone?" Ranran challenged them as the trio exchanged glances, "You don't forget that the killer might have been aware of this hotel's existence, and this is the only location where Wi-fi is accessible, right?! The minute this reaches their ears.....will be the day all those kids outside are killed. And who are the parents going to blame once this happened!?"

Ran, Reina, and Takuma exchanged glances, as the detective girl's words struck a chord with them. The possibility of the serial killer being aware of their location sent a shiver down their spine.

Even Shinichi barked, "Listen, Ranran is right. Especially since we still have the corrupt officials back in our hometown, there is no way I am willing to quit being a child Tantei, all thanks to Mana who couldn't accept Ranran's brutal honesty! And now that his words are endangering everyone else's lives, including ours despite knowing that there is a serial killer out there....tell me, is he any different than the killer we are pursuing after now!?"

Shinichi's words echoed through the room, his frustration and anger palpable. The weight of the situation had pushed him to his limits, and he couldn't help but draw a parallel between Mana's actions and the actions of the serial killer they were trying to apprehend.